Full Careers - Is a college degree worthless?

Is a college degree worthless?

During the fall of 2001, I graduated from college with a BBA in Marketing. It has been six years and I still haven't found a career. The entire situation has pulled me into a deep depression. I feel like my life has no value, and as much as it pains me to say this, sometimes I get so down I feel like ending my life. The career counselors at my university have reviewed my resume and found nothing wrong with it. I have participated in many mock interviews, receiving positive feedback. The university's career service counselors told me since it has been so long since I graduated, and since I don't have any experience, that my degree is now worthless. That was their exact words. Maybe they are right. Last year I sent out a couple thousand resumes and only received one reply. I had dreams of earning my masters, but those dreams are on hold since I lack the financial resources. I guess I'll just keep plugging away as waiter. Extra details: I could not participate in any internships when I was in school because they were full-time non-paying positions. I was living on my own and couldn't afford to do so. I live in San Antonio and have been submitting resumes to companies in the Dallas/Ft. Worth metro area, Austin, and Houston.

Public Comments

You are better qualified than to be a waiter. How about manager of a restaurant or other business? You are certainly qualified to do that.
I am sympathetic to your position. A sad fact is that our generation will be the first generation in American history to not increase the standard of living from the past generation. Job opportunities are becoming stagnant and life is getting harder. Keep working as a waiter, but save your money and go back to school. Education is your way out friend. Don't give up. Good luck and God Bless.
This makes no sense to me. I'm a marketing professor and even our worst students seem to have no trouble finding jobs these days. I'm not surprised that you are depressed, and as you probably realize, the depression makes it that much harder to find a job. I'm so sorry that you have had to go through this. Are you located in some odd place where there are no jobs? I don't buy what your career service counselors are saying. I do think that you need to think about how you will spin the fact that you haven't worked in the field (although you can argue that a waiter is a marketer - that's how I got into the field). I'd be glad to try to help, if you want to contact me. I'm pretty good at packaging people and finding possibilities for them.
In some ways, they might be right. Your degree might be unusable at this point, not because it's been too long, but because everyone else competing with you has that degree *plus* something else. No matter what, I wouldn't call it worthless. It still has value as a degree. If you choose to go back to school, you'll be much better off than if you were just starting. I suggest you go back. Take out loans. Go into debt. Everybody's in debt anyhow, so join the club. The idea is that, when you're all done, you'll have a better job and will end up ahead in a few years despite the debt you've accumulated. It's better than doing nothing. Going nowhere is what is making you depressed. Doing something, even if you're not sure how it's going to turn out, at least gives you a larger sense of purpose.
stop sending CV's and start door knocking
Makes me wonder what positions you were trying to get. Were you looking too high? Hope you realize you need to start at the bottom; a degree doesn't give you the right to skip levels. Business occupations are especially this way.. you need to climb up the ladder to get any respect. You'll likely earn less the first year than as a waiter in fact.
How are you sending these resumes out? Are you blasting them via fax, or targeting specific positions and doing some research into the company before writing your cover letter? Have you tried working with headhunters? Have you joined any professional societies related to the industry you want to work in or attended networking events? Are there any volunteer opportunities you can participate in that might allow you to hone your marketing skills and get some relevant experience on your resume? It's not going to be easy, but it's not hopeless, either. Just keep working at it, and branch out to a few resources you haven't tried yet.
I was told I was a fool (by a human resources employee at my job) for wasting my time in college. But I didn't listen... I am a high school dropout, and didn't begin college until I was 29. But it turns out, I make more as a high school dropout than with the degree. I guess she was right :( I still have my dead-end job, but at least I have one.
Since I graduated college, I have had difficulty finding employment that values a college degree. I currently work in a broadcasting company that pays anyone (degree, no degree, no high school diploma, high school diploma) the same wage. When I first started, all of my immediate supervisors had no degrees. Some of my co-workers (about 20% of us have four year college degrees) moved up to a minor supervisory position. They received a $.75 raise. I believe they are slated for another one-time raise of $.75. The company gives no annual raises, evaluations, et cetera. The minor supervisory position has, at least, as many people without degrees as with degrees. The supervisors receive $1.50 for five times the work and five times the responsibility. The company changes your hours and schedule any time it wishes. The individuals currently in charge of the company have no degrees. I have always believed If they acknowledge that a degree has value, then they acknowledge they are lacking that value. I also believe that everyone and his or her brother have a four year degree today. If you want to distinguish yourself, you must have a graduate degree. I know people without degrees that are doing much better than me in their careers. You've been sold part of the American Dream. The truth is . . . a degree is no guarantee of a better job. It's a piece of paper. The skills and confidence you develop when pursuing your degree . . . that is what gives you a better chance finding a job (it STILL isn't a guarantee). College was easy. I was surprised how easy it was and how many people I saw there that probably shouldn't be there. American colleges should raise the bar and create stricter admission requirements. I didn't even consider myself worthy in being in college. Because it was easy, I didn't try very hard. I think having the piece of paper used to be more powerful than it is now. I believe a graduate degree will dazzle your potential employers more than a bachelor's degree. I applied to law school. I know how you feel though. Although I didn't have the best grades in high school, I went into the military to make up for my lack of hard work. I spent five years earning money so I could goto college. I went to college, while working full time, and maintained above a 3.25 GPA (not great but . . .). This took me another five years. I did everything like you should. Did it pay off after a decade of work? In my opinion, no. I don't think what you are experiencing is uncommon. Don't feel like your the only person in the world that is having this problem. Many people do. I do. Lots of my degree holding co-workers couldn't find employment in their fields before coming to work in broadcasting. Colleges are businesses. They need to sell you their product. They need to convince you that you need what they are selling and that it will guarantee you success. They are full of ****. :)